A Federal High court sitting in Abuja has fined Dr. Doyin Okupe the sum of 13 million for a two count charge of accepting cash payments in excess of amount allowed under the Money Laundering Act without going through financial institution.
This judgment was pronounced on Monday by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu
who had earlier discharged Okupe of count 1 to 33 which bothered on corruption, stealing and misappropriation of money he received from Col. Sambo Dasuki to run his appointed office.
Meanwhile, the court found Okupe guilty of innocently breaching sections 16(1) and (2) of the Money Laundering Act, the judge nonetheless emphasized that the
former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan had only made an honest mistake.
However, in line with the provisions of Section 310 and 311 of ACJA 2015, Doyin Okupe called 4 witnesses to establish his good character. The first witness called by Okupe was a former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
The Director General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the Labour Party (LP) also called Dr. Idi Muhammed Farrouk, his wife and one of his sons who all testified to his impeccable character.
He was however sentenced to a two year imprisonment which is to run concurrently for each of the two counts;; but with an option of #500,000 fine for each of the two counts.
